Furniture construction



July 11, 1961 l. KASS FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION INVENTOR fAv/A/c; K455 ATTOR N EY 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 50, 1958 July 11, 1961 l. KASS2,992,055

FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 50, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORfPV/NG K45 S Mi zi/Z.

ATTORNEY July 11, 1961 KAss FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed June 50, 1958 5 1 1 a :1 ra

United States Fatent G i 2,992,055 FURNITURE CONSTRUCTION Irving Kass,River Edge, N.J., assignor to Eisen Brothers, Incorporated, Hoboken,'N.J.,' 'a corporation of New Jersey Filed June '30, 1958, Ser. No.745,723 7 Claims. (Cl. 312-195) The present invention relates generallyto improvements in furniture, and in particular it relates to animproved modular type of office furniture, although the improvement isapplicable to furniture for home use.

Conventional ofiice furniture items such as desks, drawer cabinets andthe like are generally constructed either principally of wood orprincipally of a metal such as steel. Oflice furniture of steel andofiice furniture of wood possess individual advantages and disadvantageswhich reflect characteristics of the material employed. Steel oflicefurniture, while relatively rugged and versatile, lacks the warmth andattractive appearance of wooden furniture. Wooden oflice furniture, onthe other hand, while highly pleasing in appearance, is often bulky,expensive and sensitive to climatic conditions. It also lacks thestrength, durability and versatility of steel furniture.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provideimproved furniture constructions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved oificefurniture'of the modular type.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improvedfurniture of the modular type having the advantages possessed bymetallic and non-metallic structural materials but lacking theirdisadvantages.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide improvedoffice furniture of the modular type possessing the versatility andstructural characteristics of steel and the attractive appearance ofwood.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved modularoflice furniture of metal and wood construction characterized byruggedness, versatility, attractive appearance and low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanyin drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is a frontperspective view of the improved pedestal frame according to the presentinvention, and a leg thereof, shown partially broken away and in sectionand partially unsheathed;

FIGURE 2 is a front perspective view of an improved desk in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed perspective view partially in section andpartially broken away of the upper pedestal frame structure;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed perspective View partially in section andpartially broken away of the end columns and drawer slide structure ofthe pedestal frame;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan detailed view, partially in section and partiallybroken away, of the front corner section of the assembled desk;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along FIGURES 1 and 4;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom desk; I

FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of another form of constructionembodying the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a bottom plan view thereof; and

FIGURE 11 is a bottom plan view of still another line 7 :7 in

plan view of the assembled zgglaasss Patented July 11, 1961 ice 2 In asense, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improvedarticle of furniture comprising a self-supporting load-bearing metallicpedestal frame of substantially rectilinear configuration, non-metallicpanels secured to and partially enclosing said pedestal frame,

V a substantially flat, non-metallic deck member extending across thetop of said pedestal frame, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinallyextending metallic coupling tracks secured to the underface of said deckmember, and metallic fastening means carried by said pedestal frame andreleasably engaging said coupling tracks to adjustably and removablysecure said deck member to said pedestal frame.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention thereis provided a second pedestal similar in construction to the firstpedestal laterally spaced therefrom as desired or as permitted andadjustably secured in a like manner to the coupling tracks carried onthe underface of the deck member. The pedestal frame includesrectangular laterally spaced side sub-frames provided with verticalcolumns to which are separably attached transversely extending drawerslides. Drawers of conventional construction having wooden face platesare carried by the drawer slides.

Means are also provided for slidably accommodating a writing shelf orplatform in the upper portion of the pedestal frame. Vertical woodenposts are secured to the corner columns and carry between them woodenpanels which cover the side and rear faces of the pedestal. Along thebottom of the pedestal there are located pairs of parallel transverselyspaced reinforcing beams having regularly spaced pairs of alignedopenings formed therein, and there are also provided leg members havingtop plates which can be secured to the underface of the pedestal frameat selected positions.

Furthermore, as an alternative structure, two or more of the pedestalsmay be joined by means of metal coupling members removably secureddirectly to the underface of the pedestal frames. It is important tonote that with the above pedestal construction various arrangements ofpedestals and decks can be efiected and that with the addition of legswhich may be adjustably secured to the coupling tracks furthermodifications can be realized. In any case, the load-bearing assembly isconstituted by a complete continuous metal frame structural arrangementto which the deck and sheathing material is secured.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 8thereof, reference numeral 10 designates generally a two-pedestal deskembodying the present invention, which includes a pair ofdrawer-containing, laterally spaced pedestals 14 of substantiallyidentical construction carrying between them and on their upper portionsa top or deck 16.

Pedestal 14 comprises a rigid, self-supporting rectilinear skeleton orframe 17, formed of standard steel structural members such as angleirons, steel strips, plates, etc. stamped, cut, shaped and suitablyinterfastened as by spot welding or the like to provide a rigidstructure. Frame 17 includes a pair of laterally spaced, rectangularsub-frames 18 each consisting of forward and rear columns 19 and 20respectively and upper and lower transform of construction embodying thepresent invention. I

verse beams 21 and 22 respectively. Structural members 19, 20, 21 and 22forming frames 18, are of angle irons oriented so that one of theirouter legs lie in a vertical plane and their other legs define aninwardly directed peripheral flange. Transverse beams 21 and 22 areformed of two equal lengths of angle iron which are joined at theirmiddle by a short length of angle iron 23 nesting in and spot welded tothe lengths forming the upper and lower beams for convenience ofconstruction.

Upper and lower laterally-extending angle-iron cross:

beams 24 and 26 respectively extend between the subframes 18 at the rearthereof, and have their ends nesting in the corners between columns 20'and the upper and lower beams 24, 26 and suitably secured thereto as byspot welding or the like. Similarly, a cross beam 27 extends between thelower forward corners of the subframes 18 and is likewise spot weldedthereto. Thus, cross beams 26 and 27 and the transverse beams 22 definea bottom rectangular rigid sub-frame in which the angle iron structuralmembers have inwardly directed legs and upwardly directed legs.

Also extending between the lower transverse beams 22 are a second pairof angle iron cross beams 28 and 29 disposed in parallelism to thecorresponding beams 26 and 27 and equidistant therefrom, the lower legsof angle members 28 and 29 being horizontal and coplanar with thecorresponding legs of the angle irons 26 and 27. A plurality of pairs ofequally. spaced, transversely aligned pairs of circular openings orapertures 30 are formed in the horizontal legs of the angle members 26,27, 28 and 29, the purpose of which will be set forth below. Thedistance between adjacent holes 30 of each pair is equal to the distancebetween the pairs of aligned holes formed in confronting cross pieces26, 27, 28 and 2 9. The bottom sub-frame is further reinforced by a pairof laterally spaced, longitudinally extending angle irons 32 which haveupper horizontal legs afiixed to the horizontally extending under facesof the cross pieces 26, 27, 28 and 29', and depending legs.

A drawer slide supporting and post-engaging member 33 is provided (seeFIGURE 3), formed of angle iron and having an inwardly directed cornerand a laterally extending leg 34 which is spot welded to the confrontingleg of column 26 to form therewith a generally Z-shaped member insection having a rearwardly directed leg 36. Slide supporting member 33extends from a point slightly above the bottom of column 20 to a pointslightly below the top thereof. Stamped out from the face of column legs36 and extending inwardly of the rear sub-frame are a plurality ofregularly spaced pairs of hook elements 37 and 38 respectively, each ofthe hook elements including an arm 39 directed outwardly from the columnleg 36, the upper arm 39 terminating in a depending leg 40 and the lowerarm 39 terminating in an upwardly directed leg 41.

Front columns 19 of sub-frame 18 likewise carry postengaging and slidesupporting columns 42 (FIGURES 3 and 4) formed of angle irons, eachhaving a transversely extending leg spot welded to a confrontingcorresponding leg of column 19 and a forwardly directed leg 43. C01-umns 42 extend from a point above the bottom of columns 19 to a pointbelow the top thereof, in horizontal alignment with columns 33. Aplurality of pairs of regularly spaced hook elements 44 having upwardlydirected openings are stamped from columns 42, in cooperative locationwith respect to the hook elements 37 and 38 as will be hereinafter setforth. It should be noted, as in the case with ther ear columns 26, 33,the columns 19 and 42 at the front of the pedestal also form a generallyZ- shaped section.

Formed on the confronting faces of the column legs 36 and 42 ofsub-frame formed by members 19, 20, 21, 22, above the lower ends thereofare horizontally aligned outwardly bulged portions 46, co-planar drawertracks or slides 47 are secured, as by spot welding or the like, to legs36, 42, between the transversely spaced pairs thereof. Slides 47 areformed of angle irons having upright legs and inwardly directed legs,and are connected by their upright legs (see FIGURE 7). A pair ofarcuate button elements 48 are positioned on the forward inner faces ofthe slide 47 and serve to facilitate the easy movement of a drawersupported thereon. Also supported by and between the column legs 36 and43- immediately belowe the upper ends thereof are upper drawer guides 491 having horizontal upper legs and depending outer lower legs. Guides 49are secured by the vertical legs, as by spot welding or the like. a

Located above the upper ends of front columns 42 and secured to theinner faces of the front colums 19, below the upper ends thereof, is anangle iron cross piece 50 having a horizontal upper leg and a dependingfront leg. Located at the upper, forward part of the pedestal is awriting platform slide which includes a pair of laterally spacedtransversely extending Z-shaped structural members 51 each having avertical web 52, a horizontally outwardly directed upper leg 53 secured,as by spot welding or the like, to the underface of the upper componentof sub-frame 18, and an inwardly directed horizontal leg 54, the cornersof which are rounded off and which extends for the full length of theweb 52. Member 51 extends from a point vertically aligned with theleading edge of column leg 43 for approximately one-quarter of thelength of the beam 18, and the upper horizontal leg 53 extends from apoint rearwardly of the leading end of web 52 and terminates at a pointshort of the rear end thereof.e Secured to the inner face of the web 52is a vertical leg of an angle member 56 having an inwardly directedhorizontal upper leg which is parallel to horizontal leg 54 of member 51and is substantially coextensive with leg 53. A pair of arcuate slidebuttons 57 are aflixedto the inner front faces of leg 54 and thevertical leg of angle member 56.

A bar strap 58 extends transversely across the upper part of the frameand is secured to the upper faces of the horizontal legs of angle irons56 intermediate the ends thereof. Extending from the forward portion ofeach of the upper legs of the angle irons 56 rearwardly and inwardly tothe upper face of the cross bar 58 and welded thereto are diagonalbracing strips 59 each having a longitudinally extending slot 60 formedtherein in lateral alignment with each other. Angle iron bracing members61 having horizontal top legs 63 extend between and are secured to thebeams 18 and cross members 24 in the vicinity of the ends thereof.Formed in the brace member legs 63 are longitudinally extending slots64, in lateral alignment with each other and in transverse alignementwith'slots 60 formed in the braces 59.

There are provided a plurality of removable drawer positioning slide andguide members indicated generally by reference numeral 65. Each of thedrawer positioning members 65 includes a pair of longitudinally spacedcoplanar end plates 66, said plates having a pair of vertically spaced,rectangular openings 67 formed therein adjacent their outer edges. Theheight of the end plates 66 is substantially equal to or slightly lessthan the distance between the hook arms 39 carried on column leg 36, andthe distance between the upper edges of opening 67 therethrough issubstantially equal to the distance between the bases of hook members44-. Spot welded to the inner faces of the plates 66 and extendingbetween their lower corners is an angle member drawer guide 68 having avertical leg and an inwardly extending horizontal leg 69. Disposed abovedrawer guide 68, parallel to and substantially coextensive therewith, isa drawer slide or track 70 having a vertical leg 71 welded to the plates66 and an inwardly directed horizontal leg 72. A pair of slide buttons73 are secured to the inner faces of the legs of the drawer track 70adjacent the forward end thereof.

The draw positioning members 65 are separably mounted on and between thecolumns 33 and 42, the upper and lower borders of the rear plates 66being embraced by hook elements 37 and 38, and the hook elements 44 onthe front column 42 engaging the upper borders of the openings 67. Inthe illustrated embodiment, there are shown two pairs of drawer guideand slide members 65 so as to accommodate three equally sized drawers inpedestal 14. It is apparent that by removing either the upper or lowerof members 65, two of the drawersmay be replaced by a single doubledrawer.

A draw positioning member 65 maybe removed merely by raising the frontplate. and moving it inwardly to eifect the diSenga-gement of hookelements 44 at the forward end of the pedestal and then sliding themember 65 to bring plate 66 out of the embrace of hook elements 37 and38 at the rear of the assembly.

As an alternative to the apertured plates 66 and hooked columns 42, Imay provide outwardly and downwardly directed books on plates 66,registering with suitably vertically spaced apart keyways or openings incolumns 42. The wood corner posts (to be referred to below) secured tothe outer faces of columns 42 would be suitably routed to accommodatethe hook ends passing through the apertured members 42. With sucharrangement, greater flexibility is available for drawer heights.

Vertical wooden posts 76 are located along the vertical edges of thepedestal frame 17 extending for the full height of end columns 19 and20. A wooden beam 75 of rectangular cross section extends between thelower ends of the confronting faces of the corner posts 76 and issecured thereto and to the front face of the vertical leg of angle iron27. The inner walls of corner posts 76 abut the outer faces of columnlegs 36 and 43, and the adjacent faces of the columns 19 and 20, and arefirmly secured thereto by glue, cement or other suitable fasteningmeans. 7

Formed in the rear and front outer vertical corners of front and rearposts 76 respectively are grooves 77 of triangular transverse crosssection which extend for the full height of the corner posts 76. Woodencovers or sheath panels 78, which may be formed of plywood or the like,extend between adjacent posts 76 along the side faces of the pedestalframe 17 and are provided with beveled vertical edges which nest in thetriangular grooves 77, and are suitably glued or cemented therein. Apanel 78a of plywood, or the like, is keyed into and extends between therear posts 76. Front posts 76 have formed along their forward innervertical edges a longitudinally extending groove 79 of right angletransverse cross section to accommodate the face plates of the drawers,as will be set forth below.

A plurality of drawers 80, of conventional construction, are supportedby drawer slides 70 and maintained in position by guides 69 inwell knownfashion. Each drawer includes side walls 81 and a handle-carrying frontface plate 82 of a width substantially equal to the distance betweenpost grooves 79, and having their outer borders register therewith andcoplanar with the front 7 face of the forward corner posts 76. In orderto facilitate the sliding of the drawers 80, one of the side wallsthereof 81 carries arcuate outwardly convex buttons 81a along its bottomedge and along its lower outer side edge. a A writing shelf or platform83 formed of a wooden panel is slidably carried between the slide leg 54and the confronting upper leg of the angle member 56 (sec FIGURE 5) andis provided with forward laterally extending wing portions 84 which areadapted to nest in the upper portion of the post grooves 79.

Associated with the pedestal frame 17 are one or more foot pieces 86awhich include an upper rectangular metal base plate 87a and a dependingcentrally located wooden leg 88a. Tapped openings 89a are formed in thecorners of the base plate 87a, the spacing of the openings correspondingto the spacing of the pairs of openings 30 formed in the horizontal legsof bottom cross beams 26, 27, 28 and 29. One or more of the foot pieces86a have their base plates 87a resting on the horizontal legs ofadjoining bottom cross beams 26, 28 and 27, 29 at the desired positionsand are secured by means of screws passing through the openings 30 andengaging the tapped openings 89a.

Deck member 16 consists of a substantially flat rectangular woodenpanel, and has formed in the underside thereof a pair of transverselyspaced longitudinally extending parallelgrooves 86 adjacent to the frontand rear edges thereof and extending to points short of the end edges ofthe deck 16, FIGURE 6. Nested in each of grooves 86 is a longitudinallyextending steel coupling the resulting cabinet.

track 87 having a substantially flat top wall 88 which abuts the topface of the groove 86 and is secured thereto by means of suitable woodscrews 89. Depending from the longitudinal edges of the track wall 88are legs 90 which terminate in inwardly directed lips 91. Deck 16 isadjustably secured to the top of pedestal frame 17 in any desiredlaterally extending position by means of threaded bolts 94'having shanksprojecting upwardly through the openings 60 and 64 in braces 59, 61, andengaging threaded locking wings or nuts 96, having a width less than thedistance between the confronting edges of the track lips 91 and a lengthgreater than the distance between the confronting edges of the tracklips 91.

In positioning deck 16 on pedestal frame 17, the deck is disposed uponthe frame with the track openings in alignment with the wing or nuts 96.Wing or nuts 96 are then raised and rotate until they abut the verticallegs 90 of the track. The deck 16 is then slid to its desired positionand the screw bolts 96 tighten to effect a locking of the deck in thedesired position.

In assembling the desk as illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, legmembers 86a are connected to the corners of the underframe of a pair ofpedestals and the desk is assembled by laterally spacing the pedestalsand applying the deck 16 thereto in the manner described above. Variousarrangements of the pedestal and desk may be constructed. Furthermodifications may be realized by substituting for one of the pedestalsanother form of support such as a pair of elongated legs cross bracedand similarly connected to the coupling tracks 87. A bottom facing orprotecting panel 98 may be located within the pedestal frame 17 andcarried upon the vertically extending legs of cross members 26, 27, 28and 29.

In FIGURES 9 and 10 of the drawing, there is illustrated a linearlyextending cabinet employing three pedestal frames somewhat similar inconstruction to the frame 17. The pedestal frames, however, in the caseof the present embodiment are not provided with the drawer and writingplatform accommodating slides and guides, and in their place issubstituted any desired interior for Swinging or sliding doors 99 may beassociated with each of the pedestals.

As seen in FIGURE 10, there are provided coupling straps 100 each havingformed therein a pair of longitudinally spaced openings 101 by which thestraps 100 are separably fastened by any suitable belt or screwarrangement to the pedestal frame cross beams 28 and 29. A trackprovided deck 102 similar in construction to the deck 16 is locatedalong the top of the pedestal frames and separably afiixed thereto inthe manner described in connection with the first embodiment. Legs 86are affixed to the underface of the assembled pedestals at the cornerthereof as previously set forth. The support structure or skeleton framefor the cabinet illustrated in FIG- URES 9 and 10 is a self-supportingmetal framework which can be readily disassembled into the componentframe sections thereof.

In FIGURE 11 of the drawing, there is also illustrated a cabinet similarto that illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 of the drawing but difieringtherefrom in that the cabinet is of overall angular configuration. Apair of pedestal frames, modified as above described, are arranged insideby-side relationship and connected by coupling straps 100. Theinterior of the cabinet defined by the individual frame members areaccessible through doors located along the front or outside face of theangular cabinet.

A third pedestal frame 17 likewise modified in the above manner islocated with its side face abutting the rear face of one of the otherpedestals 17 and has its front face outwardly directed. Coupling straps100 connect the cross beams 28 and 29 of the transversely adjacentpedestal frame 17 with the cross beam 26 of the rightmost pedestalframe. The tops of the pedestals may be covered with a correspondinglyshaped deck which is secured to the pedestal frames in the mannerpreviously described.

Foot pieces 86a are located along the under-faces of the pedestal framesat the outer corners thereof. In the embodiment last described, thepedestal frames are of substantially square horizontal outline whereasin the other embodiments they may be of square or rectangular outline.

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments.of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations andomissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Forexample, while the sheathing material and deck material has beenindicated as being formed of wood, these may desirably be formed ofother non-metallic material. Furthermore, the overall shapes andconfigurations and interiors of the various cabinets and pedestals maybe modified as desired. Also, wherever in the specification and claimssteel or angle irons or any specific metal is referred to, any othersuitable metal may be substituted therefor.

I claim:

1. An improved pedestal of the character described, comprising aself-supporting, load-bearing metallic frame of substantiallyrectilinear configuration including a pair of laterally spaced,parallel, similarly shaped rectangular sub-frames having front and rearcolumns and upper and lower transversely extending beams, laterallyextending cross beams connecting said sub-frames, supplementary columnssecured to said sub-frame front and rear columns and having fiat facesdefining with the corresponding faces of said respective sub-framecolumns outwardly directed rectilinear troughs, vertical posts partiallynesting and secured in said troughs and having walls abutting the facesof said troughs, and wooden panels extending be tween and supported bysaid posts along a plurality of the sides of said pedestal.

2. An improved pedestal of the character described, comprising aself-supporting, load-bearing metallic frame of substantiallyrectilinear configuration including a pair of laterally spaced,parallel, similarly shaped rectangular sub-frames having front and rearcolumns and upper and lower transversely extending beams, laterallyextending cross beams connecting said sub-frames, supplementary columnssecured to said sub-frame front and rear columns, said laterally spacedsupplementary columns having faces confronting each other and saidtransversely spaced supplementary columns having substantially coplanarfaces, and transversely extending parallel drawer slides carried by andbetween the coplanar faces of said supplementary columns.

3. An improved pedestal of the character described, comprising aself-supporting, load-bearing metallic frame of substantiallyrectilinear configuration including a pair of laterally spaced,parallel, similarly shaped rectangular sub-frames having front and rearcolumns and upper and lower transversely extending beams, laterallyextending cross beams connecting said sub-frames, supplementary columnssecured to said sub-frame front and rear col,- umns, said laterallyspaced supplementary columns having faces confronting each other andsaid transversely spaced supplementary columns having substantiallycoplanar faces, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of verticallyspaced hook members disposed along the confronting faces of said rearsupplementary columns, the hook members of each pair having confrontingopenings, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of vertically spacedhook members having upwardly directed openings located on said frontsupplementary column confronting faces, a plurality of transverselyextending drawer slides having vertical coplanar plates located at thefront and rear ends thereof, said rear plates being releasably embracedby corresponding pairs of hooks on said rear supplementary columns andsaid front plates having vertically spaced pairs of openings thereinengaging corresponding pairs of said forward supplementary column hookelements.

4, Ar; improved pedestal comprising a self-supporting, cadibeari gmetallic; frame of substantially rectilinear configuration including apair of laterally spaced, parallel, similarly shaped rectangularsub-frames having front and rear columns and upper and lowertransversely extending beams, a first pair of cross beams connecting theforward and rear ends of said lower transversely extending beams to formtherewith a bottom sub-frame, a second pair of cross beams secured toand extending between said lower transversely extending beams, saidsecond pair of cross beams being parallel to and inwardly spaced fromand disposed between said first pair of cross beams, said first andsecond pairs of cross beams having horizontal leg sections lying in asubstantially common plane and having formed therein a plurality oftransversely and laterally aligned openings, a plurality of foot piecesincluding upper base plates and depending legs, said upper base plateshaving openings formed therein, the base plates of said foot piecesabutting the underfaces of the horizontal legs of said cross beams, theopenings formed therein being aligned with the opening in said crossbeam, and separable fasteners engaging said aligned openings.

5. An improved article of furniture comprising a selfsupporting,load-bearing metallic pedestal frame of substantially rectilinearconfiguration including a pair of laterally spaced, parallel, similarlyshaped rectangular sub-frames having front and rear columns and upperand lower transversely extending beams, laterally extending cross beamsconnecting said sub-frames, diagonal braces extending between said crossbeams and said transverse beams, said diagonal braces having openingsformed therein in lateral and transverse alignment with each other, anon-metallic deck member extending across the top of said pedestalframe, a pair of transversely spaced metallic coupling tracks secured tothe underface of said deck member and extending longitudinally and forsubstantially the full length thereof, and overlying said openingsformed in said braces, and fastening means projecting through saidopenings and releasably engaging said tracks.

6. A pedestal of the character described, comprising a pair of laterallyspaced apart rectangular sub-frames, each including front and rearcolumns permanently connected by upper and lower beams, laterallyextending across-beams permanently connecting the sub-frames adjacentthe upper and lower corners at the rear thereof and at the lower cornersin the front, a laterallyextending cross-beam secured to the upper beamsof the subframe rearwardly of the front thereof, an inwardly angledbrace strap connecting each upper beam to the crossbeam, the strapsbeing vertically apertured in lateral alignment, an inwardly angledbrace strap connecting each upper beam to the upper rear cross-beam,said straps being vertically apertured in lateral alignment, theapertures in the straps connected to each upper beam being in transversealignment, a deck overlying the pedestal, said deck having a pluralityof retainers on the underside thereof, and means associated with saidapertured straps and the deck retainers removably to secure the deckatop the pedestal.

7. A pedestal of the character described, comprising a pair of laterallyspaced apart rectangular sub-frames, each including front and rearcolumns permanently con nected by upper and lower beams, later-allyextending cross-beams permanently connecting the sub-frames adjacent theupper and lower corners thereof at the rear and adjacent the lowercorner at the front, a plurality of drawer supports and drawer guideswithin the pedestal, certain of which supports and guides are removablyconnected to the front and rear columns of the sub-frames, said certaindrawer supports and drawer guides being permanently secured to front andrear similar apertured pl-ates symetrically located on said supports andguides, track means on said'rear columns releasably engaging S id rearplates to restrict the. mgvementthereof to a longitudinal direction, andmeans on said front column separated registering with said apertures insaid forward plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS826,669 Kindgen July 24, 1906 1,072,280 Walker Sept. 2, 1913 1,413,111Fricker Apr. 18, 1922 10 1,508,259 Stafiord Sept. 9, 1924 10 Larson etal Ian. 20, 1925 Sessions July 7, 1925 Brainard Nov. 22, 1927 RichardsonJuly 5, 1932 Freeman June 4, 1949 Wallance Oct. 3-1, 1950 Wolters Aug.17, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 17, 1952

